Is a Hybrid Sports Bike Right for Me?

When you’re choosing a hybrid sports bike, there are a few things to look out for which can help you work out the quality and performance you can expect from a particular model.

Usage

There are a variety of hybrid sports bikes available. Some will have wider tyres and a suspension fork up front to take the sting out of rough roads and tracks, while others will have narrower tyres and a rigid fork for faster cycling on smoother tarmac.

Usage

Price Bracket

Frame Material

Fork

Pros

Cons

Occasional cycling - on roads and cycle paths

£200 - £400

Plain gauge Aluminium alloy

Rigid steel or basic suspension

An affordable way to get into cycling

Limited gear range. Components are less durable

Regular urban cycling - Commuting, transport and fitness training

£400 - £1,000

Butted aluminium alloy

Rigid aluminium alloy or carbon fibre at the higher end

Quick and confident on the road. Lighter weight with durable components.

Frame Material

Most hybrid sports bike frames are made from lightweight aluminium alloy or carbon fibre composite on some high-end bikes.

Aluminium alloy frames are strong and lightweight, especially compared to the steel frames on cheap supermarket bikes. Entry level hybrids have frames built from plain gauge aluminium while higher end bikes will feature ‘butted’ and/or formed frames which are significantly lighter and just as strong.

Carbon fibre composite frames are even lighter than aluminium. These frames also offer a smoother ride thanks to the vibration absorbing properties of carbon fibre.

Fork

Hybrid sports bikes come in two basic flavours for riding different terrain. Road hybrid bikes are intended for riding on tarmac roads and cycle paths so will have a rigid fork. Mixed terrain hybrids feature a suspension fork for smoother riding on rough gravel tracks and forest paths as well as roads.

Rigid forks on hybrid bikes are usually made from aluminium alloy although you will find heavier steel forks on entry level models. Some high-end hybrids will have a carbon fork for a lighter, smoother ride.

Suspension forks are found on mixed terrain hybrids to help soak up the bumps on rough roads and gravel cycle paths. Suspension travel is usually just over 60mm, which is plenty for smoothing the bumps on rough roads. At the entry level, you will find coil springs with minimal adjustment. As you move up through the price points you will find lighter air springs and lockouts for more efficient cycling on smooth surfaces.

Components

What gearing options are there?

Most hybrid sports bikes offer a wide range of gears for taking on a variety of terrain. It’s not all about the number of gears though. This is because fewer gears on the front, combined with a wide range rear cassette are much easier to use, but still give you the same wide range of gears. As you go up the price points shifting gets easier with more cogs on the rear cassette and fewer front chainrings.

Hub gears are another option and offer a good spread of gears that require less maintenance to keep them running sweetly, especially when combined with a belt drive.

Entry level hybrid bikes will have a triple chainset with a seven or eight speed cassette.

Mid-level hybrid bikes will have either a double or triple chainset with a nine or ten-speed cassette. You will also find eight-speed hub gears at this level.

High-end hybrid bikes with a rigid fork will often feature a compact double road bike chainset combined with a nine, ten or eleven speed cassette. Some suspension fork hybrid bikrd will have a single front chainring combined with a very wide range ten or eleven-speed cassette. Eleven-speed hub gears are also popular at this level.

Which are the best brakes?

There are three types of brakes found on most hybrid sports bikes

Rim brakes are powerful in the dry but are significantly less powerful in the wet.

Mechanical disc brakes are powerful in all weather conditions. This makes disc brakes ideal for winter cycling as well as off-roading.

Hydraulic disc brakes are the most powerful in all weather conditions, and also offer the best braking precision.

Can I fit mudguards and racks?

Hybrid sports bike are practical machines, so you will often find models that come with mudguards and luggage racks ready fitted. All hybrid bikes are compatible with racks and mudguards, however, so you can always add them later if you wish.

Wheels & Tyres

Most hybrid bikes run on 700c road bike wheels as these roll most efficiently on the smooth surfaces. Occasionally you will find 27.5” (650b) or 29” mountain bike wheels on hybrids as these allow you to run higher volume tyres for a smoother ride on rough terrain.

Hybrid bike tyres are wider than road bike tyres, to give you more cushioning and grip, but not as wide as mountain bike tyres, so you can still ride efficiently on the road. Rigid fork hybrids have tyres with a low-profile tread pattern that is designed for all-weather cycling on tarmac. Suspension fork hybrids tend to have slightly wider tyres with a more aggressive tread pattern. These give you a little more grip on loose surfaces without slowing you down too much on the road.

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What's In The Box

As cyclists ourselves, we know you will be keen to get out on your new bike as soon as possible. That's why we provide you with all the essential kit you need to get your shiny new bike rolling for the first time.

Most bikes don't come with pedals as standard so we include a set of basic pedals, free of charge with every bike we send out. We will also provide you with a pedal spanner to fit them and a 9-key trail tool, along with full instructions for setting your bike up out of the box. Each bike is sent out with a 16 point, quality control check sheet so you can be confident that your bike has been fully checked by our qualified mechanics.

Basic setup instructions

16 point quality control checklist

Free tredz multitool

Free tred pedal spanner

Free basic pedals

Free drawstring kit bag

Free bike insurance voucher

All these items are provided at no extra charge and are packed into a Tredz drawstring bag that doubles up as a handy backpack for carrying your ride essentials.

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V12 Representative Example: If total purchase price is £1,399.00 with a deposit of £139.90 (10%) and your selected term is 36 months Classic Credit (15.9% APR fixed), you would pay £43.55 per month. Total charge for credit will be £308.70 and total amount repayable is £1567.80, subject to terms and status.

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